LBDA to set up revamped rice mill in Kibos: Malonza

Cabinet Secretary for East Africa Community and Regional Development Peninah Malonza said the new milling machine will revolutionize rice farming in the region with a move aimed at growing wealth creation amongst farmers.

Malonza, who visited the site where the assembling of the new machine is taking place, said farmers have over the years complained of obsolete machines.

“This machine once fitted will relieve farmers of long queues and prevent them from selling unpolished rice outside the country,” the CS said Friday.

She said farmers have also suffered in the hands of middlemen assuring them that the new machine will give them hope of planting more rice.

“The old machine had a mill capacity of 3.5 tonnes of rice per hour when it [was] installed but this has deteriorated up to under 1 tonne per hour,” she said.

4-tonne capacity

The CS said the new machine has the capacity to mill 4 tonnes of rice per hour and comes with new features that will enhance its efficiency.

“The new mill will greatly assist farmers from the schemes of Ahero and Nyando irrigation areas thus spur economic growth,” she said.

Malonza said the machine will be ready for commissioning by President William Ruto in a month.Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.

Accompanied by LBDA Managing Director Wycliffe Ochiaga, Malonza said the new mill will help the Authority generate more income and help in running its activities and operations.

The CS said the project will spur value addition and promote the Bottom Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) under the Kenya Kwanza Government.

“This is going to be one of the projects to spur one of our economic pillars under BETA by promoting food security in the region,” she said.